Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Union Condemns DPRK’s intermediate-range ballistic missile Test.
The European Union issued its condemnation against North Korea over the test of the intermediate-range ballistic missile in strong words.
“This recent launch, in fact, violates dozens of resolutions that the United Nations Security Council has adopted,”
said the Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the European Union, Anitta Hipper. It raises concerns that heightened tensions will dominate the Korean Peninsula. The EU reacted to the missile test with full solidarity toward regional partners, in this case, especially toward the Republic of Korea and Japan.
North Korea, abbreviated as DPRK, was, however, called on by the European Union to discontinue illegal actions such as missile tests that call for dialogue. The EU restated that only by diplomacy and dialogue can the world achieve durable peace and security for the region. It called on Pyongyang to react positively to the invites of major actors that have also invited Pyongyang to start negotiating for the sake of sharing cooperation meant to avoid escalations and ensure stability in the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea launched a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile on Tuesday, 6 January 2025. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, it was the first missile launch this year. It reportedly traveled 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) at up to 12 times the speed of sound and hit the simulated target on the sea, with altitudes reaching 62 miles and 26.4 miles. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch and told the press that missile development is important, but this helps to enhance the nuclear deterrent. However, this will focus more on self-defense compared to doing aggressive actions.
The international observers have, however, expressed their concerns over the launch since it occurred at a period where tensions seem to be heightened within the region, coupled with discussions regarding the military progress undertaken by North Korea. South Korea’s military discounted North Korean claims about the distance traversed by the missile, stating that it had not covered the distance as claimed and did not even reach the secondary peak.
The launch has been condemned by many countries, including France, which condemned it while showing the nation’s solidarity with South Korea and Japan. France urged North Korea to stop its destabilizing actions and abide by its international obligations. The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned it while mentioning the launch was against multitudes of UN Security Council resolutions, as he visited the region during the launch.
